Publications for Business Law
A general understanding of the litigation process can help relieve some of that anxiety. This article is a general outline of the litigation process in case you find yourself in a situation where you have been sued or you need to sue someone else.
The Grand Rapids Business Journal picked up shareholder Jonathan J. David's article on estate planning for small business. This column covered the main points from David's new ebook along with some tips for business owners on sucession planning.
In the last three years, growth of foreign expats working in Shanghai has declined to only about 1/10 the average annual growth of the last twelve year. Businesses are leaving and expats are being replaced by low-cost local staff alternatives.
Will your standard terms and conditions win in a battle of forms? Do you have standard terms and conditions at all?
The Uniform Commercial Code (“UCC”) was drafted in 1958 and contains a series of articles that aim to govern commercial transactions. Nearly every state has adopted its own version of the UCC, including Michigan.
This is a two-part series discussing year-end tax strategies available to reduce the tax liability of your business. This installment discusses the de minimis safe harbor election and bonus depreciation as two tax savings opportunities available in addition to Section 179.
Intellectual property (“IP”) rights can be the cornerstone of a business's value and competitive edge. IP rights are generally grouped into four categories: trademarks, copyrights, patents, and trade secrets.
This article is the first of a two-part series and discusses the deduction available under Code Section 179. Part 2 addresses ways the bonus depreciation rules and other farm-specific deductions can be paired with Section 179 for effective and powerful year-end tax planning.
A good warranty can also be good advertising, and the difference between customers buying your product or your competitor’s may come down to who has the better warranty. It can be tempting to give your warranty a label that sounds better than your competitors, but did you know that how you label your warranties is governed by federal law?
Two studies conducted recently resulted in data-driven articles that shed greater light on the issue of when, and why, courts accept veil piercing arguments.
Changes in Technology and the Law Require Some Employers to Revise Internet and Social Media Policies.
Check fraud can harm your business by causing cash flow problems, burdensome fraud investigations, and even unreimbursed financial losses.
The IRS now automatically revokes an organization’s tax exempt status if the organization fails to timely file an annual information return for three consecutive years.
President Obama signed the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012. The Act made other lesser-known but important changes to the tax law that could affect you and your business. This article summarizes those changes.
Michigan's highly successful Clean Corporate Citizen program has received new and added emphasis. The Michigan Legislature passed legislation to organize and enlarge benefits provided to Michigan businesses that exercise environmental stewardship.
LARA has issued a warning regarding a letter being sent to Michigan corporations asking for an Annual Minutes Disclosure Statement.
You might save on your employment taxes if your business is taxed as an "S Corporation."
Noncompetition agreements typically prohibit an employee or seller of a business to own or work for a competitor of the protected party, and often are of substantial value. However, a Michigan court will only enforce these agreements if they comply with the following four requirements.
The IRS has published guidance that might exempt your business from the new requirement to report the cost of health care on your employees' Forms W-2.
Effective January 1, 2012, the Corporate Income Tax will impose a flat 6% tax on the Michigan apportioned income of businesses that are taxed as C corporations for federal income tax purposes.
Investing in your business in 2011 may afford additional tax benefits.
Foreign investors who may not satisfy the requirements for an EB-5 Immigrant Visa (, should consider applying for an E-2 Treaty Investor Visa.
State tax laws have not kept pace with the rapid growth of cloud computing.
Recent changes to Michigan's Limited Liability Company Act made by Public Act No. 290 of 2010 may affect your limited liability company.
On February 17, 2011, Governor Rick Snyder proposed restructuring Michigan's tax system.
Companies should exercise considerable care before transferring potentially hazardous materials, such as paints, solvents, chemical agents and empty storage drums, to third parties.
U.S. exporters may be able to reduce their U.S. effective tax rate by establishing an IC-DISC.
The recently enacted Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act may benefit your business with tax savings.
Nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements are required to comply, in writing, with the highly technical rules of Internal Revenue Code Section 409A ("Section 409A") effective as of January 1, 2009.
Employers who wish to review social media or employees’ personal web sites should have a policy in place informing employees that the company has a right to monitor employee use of the systems.
A recent case decided by the United States Tax Court might help investors in limited liability partnerships (LLPs) and limited liability companies (LLCs) to deduct losses incurred by the LLPs and LLCs against income from other sources.
Under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act ("ERISA"), an employer who adopts or agrees to participate in a qualified pension plan is required to make ongoing pension contributions to the pension fund.
Several years ago, Congress permitted S corporations to sponsor employee stock ownership plans ("ESOPs").
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm has unveiled Michigan Business One Stop, a new program that will provide businesses in Michigan with a single source for business services.